Here are the travel restrictions during level 4 lockdown. International travel (and recreational travel within South Africa's borders) will not be allowed.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma spoke at a media briefing on Thursday, 29 April 2020 regarding lockdown level 4 restrictions in South Africa, and shared conditions pertaining to travel.

Minister Dlamini-Zuma explains that certain forms of travel within South Africa’s borders are allowed. However, there will be restrictions. International travel is still a no-go.

Lockdown level 4: International travel restrictions

According to the minister, sea borders, ports, airports, land ports of entry will remain closed. She added that borders are only open importing and exporting essential goods, especially to and from neighbouring countries.

Expatriating South African travellers stuck elsewhere

Travel will only be in exceptional circumstances; such as South Africans stuck elsewhere in the world and who want to return home.

The minister reiterated that returning South Africans must adhere to strict conditions. Returning travellers will be subject to a 14-day quarantine before returning to their families.

The minister said these strict conditions are important since many travellers will be returning from high-risk countries where infections are much higher than it is South Africa.

It is therefore vital to ensure that those returning to families and communities are not COVID-19 positive; to prevent the spread of the disease in communities where infections might not be prevalent at this stage.

Assisting foreign nationals to return to their countries

DIRCO is facilitating a program to assist or foreign nationals who are currently in South Africa and who want to return to their home countries.

According to Minister Dlamini-Zuma, tourists who were under quarantine in South Africa will receive assistance to ensure they reach ports of exit in time for their flights.

Lockdown level 4: Travel within SA’s borders

Those who have a permit to work will be allowed to travel to and from work and students will be allowed to travel with a permit once schools and universities have been opened.

Travelling across provinces is still a no-no except under the same conditions as level 5 lockdown. However, people who left their home provinces before the lockdown will have a “once-off” allowance to return to the province they work.

This once-off allowance is only be valid if their industry resumes operations Once they have returned, they will not be allowed to leave the province.

In short, workers cannot commute between provinces for work under level 4 lockdown restrictions.

Transport within South Africa to move goods

Minister Dlamini-Zuma also confirmed that other forms of transport – such as busses and rail – will be opened, under strict hygiene conditions.

This will be to allow for the transportation of cargo manufactured in South Africa for export to neighbouring countries. Those facilities will also be available for goods entering the country.

Co-parenting and family obligations

Children will be allowed to move between parents where those parents are not living in the same home.

In addition, people may travel to funerals if they have a death certificate. Funeral night vigil funerals are not allowed. In addition, no groups may gather during the week of bereavement.

Image via Twitter: @GovernmentZA

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